The following is an expansion of some posts I made on RPGNet in response to a question about using Fate Accelerated Edition (FAE) for a Warhammer 40K-inspired game. While it would be easy to bring in Extras from Fate Core or the Scale rules from other Fate builds to model the 40K universe, it’s not absolutely necessary. These example Space Marines are built using FAE only.

A Note about Power Armor

To give a squad of Space Marines a little variety, even the more-or-less-obligatory Powered Armor Stunt can be varied:

STUNTSAquila Mk. 7 Powered Armor: Because I wear Powered Armor, I gain +2 to Forcefully defend in battle.Hate Xenos: Because I hate xenomorphs, I gain +2 to Flashy attacks when fighting aliens.First into the Breech: Because I’m First into the Breech, I gain +2 to Quickly overcome obstacles when assaulting fortifications.

STRESS OOO REFRESH: 3

Brother Tiberius

High Concept: Blood Angels Space MarineTrouble: Battle-frenzyOther Aspects:
I pray each day that I resist the Black Rage
Brother Bartholomew knows my thoughts
Burn it down!

STUNTSAquila Mk. 7 Powered Armor: Because I wear Powered Armor, I gain +2 to Carefully defend when I’m in a prepared position.Flamer: Because I carry a flamer, I gain +2 to Flashy attacks against flammable targets.Scary Bastard: Because I am a Scary Bastard, I gain +2 to Forcefully create advantages when I make threats against an enemy.

STRESS OOO REFRESH: 3

Captain Valkris

High Concept: Blood Angels CaptainTrouble: The heavy weight of commandOther Aspects:
There is Only War
Hope is for fools
A duty fulfilled makes death a welcome respite

STUNTSAquila Mk. 7 Powered Armor: Because I wear Powered Armor, I gain +2 to Forcefully defend in battle.Power Fist: Because I have a Power Fist, once per game session I can punch my way through any barrier.Grim Tactician: Because I am a Grim Tactician, I get +2 to Cleverly create advantages when my squad is outnumbered or surrounded.

STUNTSCorvus Mk. 6 Powered Armor: Because I wear Powered Armor, I gain +2 to Quickly defend in battle.Power Sword: Because I carry a Power Sword, I gain +2 to Forcefully attack armored or force-shielded targets in melee.Cyber-optic: Because I have a cyber-optic, I gain +2 to Sneakily overcome obstacles by seeing flaws that only my cyber-optic can perceive.

STRESS OOO REFRESH: 3

Codicer Bartholomew

Space Marines Librarian from the Warhammer 40k Wiki

High Concept: Blood Angels LibrarianTrouble: Power leads to madnessOther Aspects:
I have seen the Warp and it has seen me
No one trusts a psyker
The deeds of the valorous must be recorded!

STUNTSAquila Mk. 7 Powered Armor: Because I wear Powered Armor, I gain +2 to Carefully defend when I am with a group of brother Marines.Psychic Hood: Because I wear a Psychic Hood, I gain +2 to Cleverly create advantages using my psychic abilities.Crozius Arcanum: Because I wield a Crozius Arcanum, once per game session I can eliminate a situational aspect that demoralizes or psychically affects my brother Marines.

STRESS OOO REFRESH: 3

Brother Bartholomew can do things that no one else in his squad can do, because he’s a psyker–but mechanically he has the same power level as everyone else: 5 Aspects, Approaches at +3,+2,+2,+1,+1, and three Stunts.

Bartholomew’s use of his Psychic Hood focuses on aiding others, bolstering defenses, and creating area-effect Aspects. Other Librarians might have “+2 to Forcefully attack sentient enemies with my psychic abilities” via Smite or “+2 to Cleverly attack mechanical devices using my psychic abilities” via Machine Curse. Bartholomew’s “No one trusts a psyker” Aspect isn’t very useful to Invoke, but it’s a great source of Compels.

Brother Khaztiel

Deathwing Terminator from the Warhammer 40k Wiki

High Concept: Dark Angels Deathwing TerminatorTrouble: Descendants slain by GenestealersOther Aspects:
Earned the name “Bear Killer” in his youth
Death Before Dishonor
Bears the Crux Terminatus

STUNTSTerminator Armor: Because I wear Terminator Armor, I gain +2 to Forcefully defend in battle.Terminator Armor: Because I wear Terminator Armor, once per game session I can ignore the damage from a single attack, regardless of source.Thunder Hammer: Because I carry a Thunder Hammer, I gain +2 to Forcefully attack in melee.Storm Shield: Because I carry a Storm Shield, I gain +2 to Quickly defend in melee.

STRESS OOO REFRESH: 2

Terminator armor is notoriously heavy and slow. Compels against “Deathwing Terminator” can demonstrate that. To show that it’s tougher than regular powered armor, it’s modeled with two Stunts. Terminators armed with Lightning Claws might have “+2 to Flashily overcome obstacles or barriers“ and “+2 to Flashy attacks in melee combat”. The Crux Terminatus is granted to senior Marines for valor. It can be Invoked just about any time in battle, but it can also be Compelled; a Space Marine bearing the Crux must act like a paragon of Astartes virtues, even if it means certain death.

STUNTSCorvus Mk. 6 Powered Armor: Because I wear Powered Armor, I gain +2 to Quickly defend in battle.Chainsword: Because I carry a chainsword, once per game session I can make an opponent use a Consequence instead of marking a Stress box. (Suggested Consequences: Severed limbs, decapitation.)Jetbike: Because I ride a Jetbike, once per game session I can get to anywhere on a continent so long as it can be reached by flight.

STRESS OOO REFRESH: 3

Jetbike from the Warhammer 40k Wiki

Brother Tamriel’s jetbike is both an Aspect and a Stunt. The Stunt allows him to use it in a very specific way, but having it as an Aspect also allows him to use the jetbike flexibly; narrating it into an attack by ramming a target or directing his jet-blast as a weapon, narrating it into a defense by taking the impact on the bike’s skid-plate, etc. The jetbike Aspect can also be Compelled easily; it can break down or suffer damage, and since it’s too large to fit into corridors a Compel can force it to be parked outside when Tamriel enters a structure.

Brother Hanno

Space Marine Scout from Warhammer 40k Wiki

High Concept: Ultramarine ScoutTrouble: Inexperienced YouthOther Aspects:
Patience of a Poacher
The Codex must be followed!
Hates Tyranids

STUNTSForward Observer: Because I am a Forward Observer, once per game session I can direct friendly artillery or air-support to bombard my enemies.
—
—

STRESS OOO REFRESH: 3

Scouts wear unpowered armor, so Brother Hanno has no armor-related Stunt, but he can still invoke his “Ultramarine Scout” Aspect to call upon his breastplate in a pinch. He’s built as a true starting character, with two free Stunts to be filled as he gains experience.

Brother Caestus

Venerable Ultramarine Dreadnought from the Warhammer 40k Wiki

High Concept: Ultramarine DreadnoughtTrouble: Undying VeteranOther Aspects:
Forged in Battle
Adrift in Memories of War
To Die at Last for Ultramar

STUNTSDreadnought: Because I am entombed within my Dreadnought, I gain +2 to Forcefully defend in battle.Mechanicus Approved: Because I bear the purity seals of the Adeptus Mechanicus, I gain +2 to Forcefully defend against xenos and creatures from the Warp.Heavy Weapons: Because I carry Heavy Weapons, my Forceful attacks gain +2 against non-vehicular targets.Quad Autocannons: Because I am armed with Quad Autocannons, I gain +2 to Flashily create advantages by laying down covering fire or creating kill-zones.Unstoppable: Because I am Unstoppable, I gain +2 to Forcefully overcome when I plod forward against entrenched foes.

STRESS OOO REFRESH 1

As a dreadnought, Brother Caestus is immune to small-arms fire and even Frag or Krak grenades, in the same way that a Main Battle Tank is immune to such things; it’s not a Stunt, it’s just true because that’s the way the world works. A heavy hail of fire from hand weapons might create a temporary Aspect on him, but even that wouldn’t do actual Stress.

Having Stunt bonuses that overlap and stack highlights the power of a dreadnought. With five stunts Brother Caestus’ Refresh is only 1, appropriate for someone with precious little remaining consciousness or free will.